Biking

Safety

By brock on Sun 29 Aug 2010, 11:34 am

I doubt that any right-thinking person would drive around a city at night with their lights out and no seatbelt.

So why do so many people ride their bikes in the city at night with no lights and no helmet - nothing but a little red reflector between them and the hospital?

A Collection of Bike-Related Items

By brock on Mon 19 Apr 2010, 10:33 pm

I haven't ridden much in the month since I crashed, but my wrists have been feeling much better lately so I'm trying to get out there more. This past weekend, I read an article in Bicycling magazine about Scott Cutshall, who lost 330 pounds by riding his bike every day and sticking to a low-calorie diet. So even though it was cold and windy yesterday and I was wiped after work tonight, I made myself go out for a ride and logged 27 miles between the two trips. Read more »

Bike Crash

By brock on Tue 16 Mar 2010, 8:25 pm

I'm typing this post gingerly and mostly right-handed, because tonight I was in my first real bike crash.

Erin was working late tonight, so I stopped by her office for a snack with her before going to the gym. The gym is all of four blocks from her office, and I made it three. Read more »

Bike Lift

By brock on Thu 10 Sep 2009, 6:53 pm

Ya know what? I think that if our apartment were lower than it is (the 13th floor), I might not need street-level parking.

We have a small balcony - too small to really use, even, since it's not even big enough for a chair. But, what if we installed some kind of swing arm just below the ceiling, rigged that up to a motor, and attached a bike lift with an electric winch? How cool would it be to stand outside and use a remote to swing the bike out over the side of the balcony and lower it down?

If I ever own an apartment with a balcony lower than, say, the fourth floor, I might try to get away with this.

Another New Record

By brock on Sun 30 Aug 2009, 11:36 am

I set another personal record today - over 21 miles in one trip! Read more »

A Slightly Damp Ride

By brock on Sat 29 Aug 2009, 11:11 am

I got drizzled on for the last of my three laps around Haines Point this morning, but hey - I'm up to three laps.

  • Total Distance: 14.64 mi
  • Average Speed: 13.5 mph
  • Max Speed: 26.6 mph, cruising along Independence Ave
  • Total Ride Time: 1:05
  • Calories Burned: about 900

It occurred to me when I got home that I should really be more careful when I'm out riding these days. Not because I'm usually reckless or anything like that, but because I'll look pretty stupid at my wedding in three weeks if I'm in a cast and stitches.

Another Trip Around Haines Point

By brock on Thu 27 Aug 2009, 9:27 pm

Did another two laps around Haines Point again tonight - the same ride as Tuesday night, except I didn't get lost in the middle and came straight home after, so it was shorter.

  • Total Distance: 11.88 mi
  • Average Speed: 12 mph
  • Max Speed: 65.9 mph (might be a fluke with my cyclometer, but I doubt it)
  • Total Ride Time: 58 minutes
  • Calories Burned: about 600

Not bad. And it may be TMI, but I can pedal a lot longer than I can sit on a bike saddle. I've got low-end padded bike shorts, and I'm wondering if it would be worth investing in a better pair to make the ride more comfortable.

I Feel Goooood

By brock on Tue 25 Aug 2009, 8:30 pm

I haven't been getting as much exercise as I should, and this evening was quite a bit cooler than most we've had lately. It was a perfect evening to ride down to Haines Point, a 3.2 mile loop of well-kept, lightly-trafficked pavement that local bikers use to train.

I got passed a lot while I was there by much more fashionable and trim individuals wearing much flashier outfits, but I still managed two laps. Read more »

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